by Donald Wood
Last updated: 4:10 PM ET, Wed June 21, 2023
A Delta Air Lines pilot was arrested in Scotland for
allegedly being over the alcohol limit.
According to the Atlanta
Journal-Constitution, 62-year-old Delta pilot Lawrence Russell Jr. was
arrested in Edinburgh on Friday at around 10 a.m. local time and charged Monday
under Section 93 of the Railways and Transportation Safety Act.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said Russell made no plea to
the charge and has been remanded in custody. The pilot is due in court again within
the next eight days.
Court records show that Russell was scheduled to pilot Delta
Flight DL209 on a transatlantic journey from Edinburgh to New York City’s John
F. Kennedy International Airport, but the carrier was forced to cancel the flight
and reschedule flights for passengers.
“Delta confirms that one of its crew was taken into custody
this morning at EDI Airport,” an airline spokesperson told The Associated
Press. “Delta is assisting the authorities with their ongoing enquiries. We apologize
to customers impacted by the cancellation.”
Delta officials told ABC News that its alcohol policy is “among
the strictest in the industry” and that the airline is “cooperating with local
authorities” as they continue their investigation.
On a more positive note, Delta and LATAM Group announced last
week the addition of joint
venture routes as the companies grow their combined network between North
and South America.
As part of the expanded partnership, LATAM Airlines Colombia
will launch new daily service between Miami and Medellin, starting on October
29, and operating on Airbus A320 aircraft offering Premium Economy and Economy
cabins.
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